Do you enjoy helping people through difficult situations? If you're a people person looking for a rewarding job, consider a career in social work.

Social workers help a range of populations, including people who are homeless, physically or mentally ill, and elderly. Social workers specialize in a variety of fields, including:

• Child, family, and schools
• Medical and public health
• Mental health and substance abuse
• Administration, planning, and policy-making

As a family social worker, you might hold therapy sessions to help a family work through its problems. With a specialization in substance abuse, you could lead support groups for people struggling to get clean. In a hospital, you might arrange for at-home services for discharged patients, such as a meals-on-wheels program.

If you're concerned about job security, social work is a good career move. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the field of social work are expected to keep growing, particularly for those who work with aging populations and in rural areas.

To launch your career in social work, you'll need a bachelor's degree, at a minimum. A degree in social work is best, but a major in psychology or sociology may qualify you for an entry-level job. For many positions, you'll need a master's degree in social work, particularly if you want to specialize in clinical work or work in a public health setting, such as a hospital.